Curb box for service pipe shut-offs in water systems



CURB B'ox FOR SERVICE PIPE SHUT-OFFS IN WATER SYSTEMS Nev. 16, 1937. J.HEINKEL ET AL Filed May 22, 1936 FIE 4 EMA-0 mm W. M6

717L172 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 FOR sERvIoE PIPE SHUT-OFFS IN WATER SYSTEMS CURBBOX PATENT OFFIQE John Heinkel, St. Louis, Mo., and William J.Hebenstreit, Kansas City, Kans.

Application May 22, 1936, Serial No. 81,144

2 Claims.

, Our invention has reference to a curb box for service pipe shut-offsfor watersystems, gas servused for turning off the flow at some pointoutlate.

side a building, and has for its'purpose to increase the efliciency andfacility of operation of such devices. It is specially adaptedfor usewith copper pipes, but is not limited thereto.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a shut-01f apparatuswhich will be selfcleaning, and in which the dirt will not accumu- Thereis included in said apparatus a sleeve forming a part of the assembly,but which can be separately removed from its position in the lower partof the box, for the removal of rocks or other obstructions which mayhave fallen into the box. Said sleeve is also capable of beingpositioned in the lower part of the box after the other parts are inplace. The sleeve also forms a guide for a rod key for operating thecock, and its relation to the box is such that if there is any tiltingof the box, such as frequently occurs from unequal pressure of theearth, it will not interfere with the operation of the cock by a toolinserted from above.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of acorrugated section or barrel. with a telescopic connection with the mainsection of the box, and with drainage channels extending through thecorrugations to assist in carrying off the water, and prevent rustingand sticking of the parts. sist in holding the box against settling, orcausing the same to settle evenly, in case there is any such tendency.

Another purpose thereof is to provide a rigid connection for the curbcock, preventing any breakage of the parts in the event of such curbcock becoming fixed in place.

Another purpose thereof is to provide a closure for the upper end of thebox which is securely held in place, without danger of tilting orslipping, when trod upon.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention willmore fully appear from the following specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows the invention in vertical medial section. V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the upper part of the box, also insection.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the sleeve I4.

Fig, 4 is a top plan view of the barrel 2|.

Fig. 5 is an end view of said sleeve.

The corrugations also as Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the enlargement6, with the shut-off apparatus removed.

The reference number 5 indicates a tubular box section, provided at itslower end with an enlargement 6, having a footing I, and reinforcingvanes 8 arranged vertically on its sides. In the sides of theenlargement 6 are recesses 9, for the passage of a water pipe, indicatedat III. Housed in the part 6 is a casing II, containing a shut-off valvefor said water pipe, not shown in the drawing. The casing is providedwith a foot ing I2, and the upper part thereof is provided with a threadat I3, for connection with a sleeve I4,'provided at its lower end withan internal thread corresponding with the thread I3, and engageabletherewith. On the outer face of the sleeve I4 are spacers ,I5, holdingthe sleeve in spaced relation with the box 5 on all sides. Through thespace thus formed, water and sediment will wash downward to a pointbelow said sleeve. The sleeve is also provided in its walls with slotsI6, for the further escape of accumulations in the sleeve. Said sleeveis also provided in its upper end with notches IT, for engagement by atool by means of which the sleeve can be rotated, to disengage it fromthe thread I3. Upon being disengaged the sleeve can be withdrawn fromthe box by means of wires or other tools engaged with the slots I6. Toreplace the sleeve I4 in the lower end of the box the above operation isreversed. The shut-off valve is provided with a handle I8, positioned inthe lower part of the sleeve I4, for operation by means of a rod key ofcommon type. r

The upper end of the tube 5 is provided with a screw thread 20, andtelescopically disposed on the upper end of said tube is a tubularsection or barrel 2|, provided throughout a part of its length withcorrugations having a spiral pitch corresponding with that of the thread20, so that the barrel can be rotated and given an upward or downwardmovement on the section 5. An adjustment of the barrel can thus be had,to bring the upper end thereof on a level with the surrounding ground,either in a street or on the boulevard portion thereof.

Vertical channels 2| are formed in the inner faces of the corrugations,through which water and mud may escape downwardly, preventing theforming of rust in the corrugations, and consequent sticking of thepipes. This will also prevent water from remaining in the upper part ofthe box, and freezing therein. A better action of the parts in adjustingthe same is also secured, the rotation of the barrel 2| being securedwithout a slipping or jumping movement thereof. The channels 2H arepreferably two in number, in opposite sides of the barrel.

The upper end of the barrel '2! is closed by means of a cap-plate 22having a flange 23 extending down over the side of said barrel. From thelower face of the plate 22 a tongue 24 projects downwardly intoengagement with an opening 24 in the side of the pipe 2|, the otherside'of the plate having an opening 26 for a bolt 21, which passesdownwardly through a perforation in a lug 28 projected from the innerwall of the barrel 2 l, and is provided below the same with a nut 29, bywhich means the cap-plate is securely held in place. Escape of the nutwhen it is disconnected from the bolt is prevented by a small shelf 30extending from the wall of the barrel 2|, and provided with an upwardlyturned flange- 3|. The space within the flange is preferably of a sizethat will prevent the nut from turning when the bolt is being engagedtherewith or withdrawn therefrom. The nut can be readily inserted orremoved between the flange 3i and lug 28. By this means danger of thenut becoming lost in the box is removed. 1

When the sleeve I4 is attached to the casing II a unitary structure isformed, with the result that if there is any tipping of the box to oneside or the other the sleeve tips in the same direction, carrying withit the handle [8, so that said handle is always in position forengagement by a key inserted from the outside.

valve therein, a sleeve in the lower part of said box, spaced therefrom,and provided with openings in its sides, cooperating means on saidsleeve and valve casing for holding said sleeve removably in position, ahandle connected with said valve and extending into said sleeve, andmeans for removing said sleeve from the box.

2. A stop-cock box formed of an upper tubular section and a lowertubular section of lesser diameter telescoping therein, and providedwith a suitable footing, a cover for said upper section removablyattached thereto, a valve casing in the lower end of said lower section,and valve therein provided with a suitable handle, a sleeve in the lowerend of said box, provided'with spacing lugs on its outer face, andremovably'connected with said valve casing, and removable through saidtubular sections, and means for removing said sleeve from the box. 7

JOHN HEINKEL. WILLIAM J. HEBENSTREIT.

